[04/17/13 - 09:01 AM]Tracy Morgan to Host the 2013 Billboard Music Awards Live from Las Vegas, Airing Sunday, May 19 on ABC"When you look at the artists who have come up through Billboard over the years, it's incredible," said Tracy Morgan. "And how can you say no when Prince is going to be there!"

[via press release from ABC]

TRACY MORGAN TO HOST THE 2013 BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS LIVE FROM LAS VEGAS, AIRING SUNDAY, MAY 19 ON ABC

Awards Show Tickets On Sale Now

NEW YORK, NY APRIL 17, 2013 - Actor and comedian Tracy Morgan, best known for his performances on "Saturday Night Live" and for his role on the hit series "30 Rock," will host the star-studded 2013 Billboard Music Awards, airing live from Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Garden Arena SUNDAY, MAY 19 (8:00-11:00 pm, ET) on the ABC Television Network, sponsored by Chevrolet and Las Vegas.

"I'm honored to be a part of one of music's biggest nights," said Tracy Morgan. "When you look at the artists who have come up through Billboard over the years, it's incredible. And how can you say no when Prince is going to be there!"

Tracy Morgan first hit the national stage when he joined "Saturday Night Live" in 1996. Morgan's journey to stardom skyrocketed during his seven season run on the Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning "30 Rock" for which Morgan received his first individual Emmy nomination. The star is about to embark on his highly anticipated national stand-up comedy tour, "Excuse My French," hitting US cities through the end of June.

As host of the Billboard Music Awards, Morgan joins an impressive lineup of stars including previously announced performers Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, Prince, Bruno Mars and Miguel. The awards show will also honor Billboard chart-topper and world-renowned music legend Prince with the Billboard Icon Award, highlighting his groundbreaking accomplishments in the music industry during the broadcast, to be executive produced by Don Mischer. For awards show updates including announcements on more musical acts and presenters, along with ticket information, visit www.billboard.com.

Billboard Music Awards finalists are based on key fan interactions with music, including album and digital singles sales, radio airplay, touring, streaming and social interactions on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, VEVO, Spotify and other popular online destinations for music. These measurements are tracked year-round by Billboard and its data partners, including Nielsen Entertainment and Next Big Sound. The awards are based on the reporting period of March 12, 2012 through March 10, 2013.

Billboard Music Awards tickets, priced beginning at $75 for Upper Level and not including applicable service charges and taxes, are on sale now. Tickets are available at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith's Food and Drug Centers and Ritmo Latino). Ticket sales are limited to four (4) per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

About Billboard

Billboard is the world's most influential music brand reaching key executives and tastemakers in and around the music business through Billboard magazine, Billboard.biz, Billboard Conferences, Billboard Bulletin, and other targeted newsletters, and millions of music fans through Billboard.com and Billboard Events. The Billboard brand is built on its exclusive charts and unrivaled reporting on the latest news, issues and trends across all genres of music. Billboard charts and content are consumed and referenced by millions of people in more than 100 countries through a content syndication deal with global news network, and strategic relationships with other major companies around the world. In addition to North America, Billboard operates businesses in Brazil, Japan, Korea and Russia.

Billboard is owned by Prometheus Global Media, which resides under the newly formed Guggenheim Digital Media, a diversified company with leading assets in the media and entertainment arenas, including: Music (Billboard and its related conferences, events, and awards shows such as The Billboard Music Awards on ABC, and The Billboard Latin Music Awards on Telemundo), Entertainment (The Hollywood Reporter, Backstage, ShowEast, CineAsia, and CineEurope); and Advertising & Marketing (Adweek, Adweek Conferences and The CLIO Awards).

About Don Mischer Productions

Don Mischer Productions is an internationally recognized leader in large scale event and television production. DMP has produced everything from Olympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies, to Super Bowl Halftime shows, to the Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial, as well major award show broadcasts including the Oscars, and Emmys. The company's principals are award-winning, producer and director, Don Mischer, and producers Charlie Haykel and Juliane Hare.

About the MGM Grand Garden Arena

The MGM Grand Garden Arena is home to concerts, championship boxing and premier sporting and special events. The Arena offers comfortable seating for as many as 16,800 with excellent sightlines and state-of-the-art acoustics, lighting and sound. Prominent events to date have included world championship fights between Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson as well as Oscar de la Hoya vs. Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez; and concerts by The Rolling Stones, Madonna, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Bette Midler, George Strait, Janet Jackson, Phil Collins, Billy Joel, U2, Lady Gaga, Sting, Coldplay, Alicia Keys, Jimmy Buffett and the Barbra Streisand Millennium Concert. The MGM Grand Garden Arena also is home to the annual Academy of Country Music Awards, annual Billboard Music Awards and the Frozen Fury NHL pre-season game which features the Los Angeles Kings vs. Colorado Avalanche.

About Chevrolet

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world's largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than 4 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature spirited performance, expressive design, and high quality. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

About The LVCVA

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) is charged with marketing Southern Nevada as a tourism and convention destination worldwide, and also with operating the Las Vegas Convention Center and Cashman Center. With more than 150,000 hotel rooms in Las Vegas alone and 10.7 million square feet of meeting and exhibit space citywide, the LVCVA's mission centers on attracting ever-increasing numbers of leisure and business visitors to the area. For more information, go to LVCVA.com or LasVegas.com.